The Discovery held yet another successful Social Science event on April 14th. More than 250 attendees indulged in a night of creativity and crafting during Social Science: Makers, the latest installment in the ever popular Social Science event series. The series provides adults the opportunity to explore the museum and science through unique and exciting hands-on activities and guest lectures. April’s “Makers” theme encouraged innovation, collaboration, and community through a variety of techniques used by Makers.

Social Science: Makers attendees played with an assortment of tools and toys throughout the night, including screen printers, LED lights, and 3D printers. In The Shop, they used their ingenuity to build marshmallow shooters out of PVC pipe, and in Science Underground, visitors got nostalgic while making unique Shrinky Dinks. Meanwhile, volunteers in Spark!Lab Smithsonian helped attendees assemble Bristle Bots, tiny robots made from toothbrushes that are cute and functional. Best of all, attendees got to take home everything they created!

The night was completed with the help of guests like Color of Neon, a local, family-owned and operating sign making shop, who lit up the museum with a collection vibrant neon signs and a discussion about the science of light. Sparks-based craft distillery Seven Troughs Distilling also stopped by to talk about the process of making spirits like gin and to hand out samples. And visiting scientist Dr. Wanliang Shan, an assistant professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, provided an inside look at his work with soft robotics and biomedical devices.

Since 2012, The Discovery’s Social Science events have inspired adults to learn about and explore science. These events help to broaden the scope of The Discovery’s mission to include people of all ages.